Braking device



F. L. sHELoR 2,153,280'

BRAKING DEVTGE Filed Nov. 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 4, 1939.

Allil'il 4, 1939- l F. L. sHELoR 2,153,280

BRAKING DEVICE Filed Nov. l2, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 2 lso Federated par. 49 w3' aises/:sc

i naviera Frederick L. Shelor, Sandstein, lla., assior to Innovation Brakes, inc., Richmond, Wa., a corporation oi Vira aannemen meenten 2, 193e, sani No.. roasts 9 (Claims.

The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in a braking device for rotating parts and more particularly to a braking device which includes a plurality of discs movble relative to one anotheraipr applying braking orce.

An object oi the invention is to provide a4 braking device of the above type which `may be independently operated either by fluid pressure 10 means or by mechanical means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a braking device .of the above type wherein a lever mechanism is utilized for increasing the braking force normally exerted by the relative l5 movement of the discs.

A,1%. further object of the invention is to provide a braking device of the above type wherein both the uid pressure actuating means and the mechanical actuating means operate through the same lever mechanism for applying the braking force.

A still further 4object of the invention is to provide a braking device of the above type wherein the construction is such that the braking surfaces are' subjected lto an air cooling eiect.

. The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious andl will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the rotatable member showing the braking mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the mechanical actuated means.

l Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryfvertical section. similar to Fig. 1, showing the braking means in engagement.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the compound lever. v

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. .F1g. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a portion of the braking surface.

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary side' elevation showing the connection between the ends of the braking surface( l The invention relates generally to a fluid-pressure-operated braking device wherein a series of levers are used for moving thebrake shoes into contact with the braking. member. More speciically, however, the present invention utilizes a compound lever mechanism for, further increasing the braking force normally, exerted by the relative movement of the discs and also provides mechanical actuating -means which may. be operated independently of the iluid pressure (Ci. 13S- 72) actuating means. To this end, the invention is illustrated as applied to a vehicle wheel but it is to be clearly understood that it may be used in connection withA any rotating member. A 'stationary disc is rigidly xed to a stationary member and located within a rim which carries a braking member. A second disc is mounted within the rim for cooperation with the stationary disc and is secured to the stationary member and to the stationary disc by flexible connections in the form of diaphragms which prevent its rotation, but which permit a limited axial movement thereof toward and away from the cooperating stationary disc. The iiexible connections between the two discs form an air-tight seal so that the space or chamber between the two discs may be placed under vacuum for causing the movable disc to shift toward the stationary disc. Cooperating brake shoes are disposed on opposite sides of the braking member. One of the brake shoes is carried directly by the stationary disc and the other is movable with respect thereto. The movable brake shoe is operated by the movable disc through a compound lever mechanism so that, when the chamber between the two discs is pl'aced under vacuum, the shifting of the movable disc toward the stationary disc operates through the lever mechanism to shift the mov? able brake shoe toward the stationary brake shoe and thus contact and clamp the intermediate braking member between the two shoes. The compound lever mechanism operates to greatly increase the vnormal braking force incident to the shifting of the movable disc toward the stationaryv disc. Spring means are provided for separating the brake shoes and the discs when the tion' to the fluid pressure actuating means, there (is provided, as stated above, a mechanical actuating means for eiecting relative movement of the brake shoes. means includes a plurality of levers which operate through contact with the movable disc to force the same toward the stationary disc. 'I'his mechanical shifting of thev movable disc will operate through the same lever mechanism to apply the increased braking force on the' brake shoes. rence of any defect in the uid pressure line, the brake may still be operated mechanically. The braking member is provided with a number of openings therethrough sofas to permit air to pass outwardly by centrifugal force. The member carrying the movable brake shoe is provided with openings to permit air to pass therethrough.

vbraking pressure thereon is released. In addi` The mechanical actuating Thus, upon failure or upon the occur-l As a result, when the brake shoes are applied, air is caused to pass out through the braking member and cool the same and when the brake shoes are separated from the braking member,

yair will pass between the braking surfaces and aid in cooling the same.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown as applied to a wheel which is carried by a spindle I0. The stationary member II is provided with an annular shoulder I2 to which the inner edge of an annular disc I3 is secured by bolts I4 or the like. The disc I3 is shaped to provide an annular recessed portion I5 and a substantially vertical annular edge portion I6. The disc I3, thus secured to the stationary member, is stationary and non-rotating. The inner edge of an annular ilexible diaphragm member I1 is clamped between the inner `edge of the disc I3 and the shoulder I2 on the stationary member. The outer` edge of a similar annular flexible member I8 is secured between the outer face of the edge portion I6 of the disc I3 and an annular clamping plate or ring I9. The free edges of both of the `flexible members I1 and I8 are secured between clamping plates or rings 28, 2I respectively and a shiftable annular disc 22 by screws or the like. The shiftable disc 22 is substantially co-extensive with the recessed portion I4 of the disc I3 so that a minimum amount of space is occupied by the -discs within the rim. 'I'he disc 22, thus secured, is also non-rotating but a shifting movement thereof toward and away from the stationary disc I3 is permitted by means of the flexible connecting members I1`and I8 which form a seal.

around the edges of the two discs so that there is provided therebetween a-chamber which may be placed under vacuum. A exible pipe 23 is connected to the movable disc 22 and affords communication with the chamber between the two discs and a vacuum creating device.

A braking member 24 is connected to the rim D (Fig. 3), that is, the braking member is secured to the rim so that it will rotate therewith but will also be permitted to shift axially of the rim when the brake shoes are brought into contact therewith. As shown particularly in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, the braking member 24includes side portions 25, 25a which are spaced apart by means of interposed sections 26, which are also spaced apart to provide a plurality of air channels between the side portions 25, 25a of the braking' the lugs 29 so that the.braking member 24 will rotate with the member D, but, at the same time, be permitted to shift axially thereof when the braking force is applied. A V-shaped slot (Fig. 7) is cut across the braking member 24 so as to prevent the ends from moving radially while perlnitting them to move toward and away from each other. The adjacent ends of the braking member 24 are spaced apart sufficiently to permit expansion thereof when heated during; the application of the braking pressure. A spring 30 has the ends 3|, 3Iathereof embedded in portions of the rib 21 on opposite sides of the -V-shaped cut and this springtends tdnormally separate the ends of the braking member so that when the parts are not heated, the braking member is still expanded in order to make contact with the rotating member D to thus prevent rattling. As shown in the drawings, the spring 30 extends laterally of the braking member`24.

'I'he edge portion I6 of the stationary disc I3 carries a stationary brake shoe 32 which is disv posed on one side of the braking member 24. A

brake shoe 33 is secured to an annular member 34 which is provided with an inwardly turned axially directed portion 35. The edge of the inwardly directed portion 35 extends to a point adjacent the outer edge of the recessed portion I5 in the stationary disc I3 and is provided with a plurality of spaced slots 36 at the edges thereof;

The stationary disc I3 carries a plurality of similarly spaced pins 31 which extend into the slots 36, thus preventing rotation of the annular member 34, but permitting the shifting thereof toward and away fromthe cooperating brake shoe 21. The annular member 34 is mounted on spaced pins 38 which extend therethrough and also through the edge portion I6 of the disc I3 and also through the clamping plate I9. The inwardly directed portion 35 of the annular member 39 is provided with a relatively small number of spaced openings 39, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

'I'he compound lever which is utilized for increasing the braking force normally exerted by the movement of the shiftable disc 22 toward the stationary disc I3 is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. 'I'here are a number of these levers spaced around the shiftable disc 22. Each lever includes an arm or shank portion 40, the free end of which is hooked, as at 4I, to engage beneath the closed end of a U-shaped staple like device 42 secured tothe movable disc 22. `Formed integral with the shank portion 35 is a Apair of spaced arms 43, 43a which form Va forked end. Carriedby the free ends of the arms 43, 43a is a pivot pin 44 on which is mounted for oscillation a lever 45 which is disposed centrally between the arms 43, 43a and which is provided with an opening 46 therethrough. The arms 43, 43a are cut away as at 41, to leave fulcrum points 48, 48a. Each pin 38 extends through the opening 46 in a lever 45 and the head 38a of each pin overlies the opening and contacts with the upper face of the lever 45. The hooked end 4I of the shank portion ts under the U-shaped member 42 on the movable disc 22. The edges 48, 48a bear directly on the clamping plate I9 and serveas fulcrum points for the compound lever when a braking pressure is'applied. 'I'he longer lever, that is, the forked lever, has a mechanical advantage of approximately 31/2z1 and the shorter lever, that is, the pivoted lever 45, has a mechanical advantage of approximately 2:1, so thatthe braking power applied to the hooked end 4I of the forked lever is multiplied by seven when it actsV on a pin 38.

When a vacuum is drawn on the chamber between the discs 22 and I3, the shiftable disc 22 will be caused to move inwardly toward the stationary disc I3 and this movement will rock the forked lever about the edges 48 and 48a and, in turn, lift the lever about its point of contact with the plate I9 so as to shift the pin 38 and the brake shoe 33 toward the stationary brake shoe 32. This movement of the levers will effect a braking contact between the shoes 33, 32 and the braking member 24, as shownin Fig. 3. When the vacuum on the chamber is released,

a spring 49, which' surrounds the pin 2l and bears on the annular portion IQ ofthe stationary disc I3 and on the annular membe, -urwilloperate to separate the brake shoes an the discs.

There are `air passages through thebraking member 24 and openings through theimwaldlydirected portion 35 of the annular member 24 so that, as the braking member 24 rotates, a small amount of air is drawn in through the openings 39 and expelled by centrifugal force through the passages in the brakingmember 24 to cool the braking member. When the braking4 pressure is released, air will pass between the braking surfaces toadord a cooling eilect. This passage of air also tends to centralize the braking member 24 with respect to the two brake shoes 32,' 33,

According to the present invention, there is also provided a mechanical brake actuating means which ls illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 2. .A cable or rod 50 connects the operating pedal (not shown) with anarcuate bar I, to each end of which are pivoted links 52, 52a. The opposite v ends of the links 52, 52a are pivoted to the ends of arms 53, 53a respectively, which are connected 25 to shafts 54, 54a respectively. The shafts 54, 54a are mounted in brackets 55, 55a respectively on the stationary member 11. The free ends of the shafts 54, 54a carry 'arms 56, 56a which are' 'disposed at right angles to the axes of the shafts. 30 The ends of the arms 56; 55a are adapted to contact with raised. bearing plates 51, 51a which are carried by the clamping ring 20. Y Upon failure of the uid .pressure operating means, it will be seen\that themechanical actu- 35 ating means-may be operated. A pull on,theA cable 50 will operate through the arcuate bar 5| and the links 52 52a to move the arms 53, 53a. 'Ihis movement of the arms 53,5311 will operate I to rotate the shafts 54, 54a and thus press the 4o arms '55, 56a against the plates 51,- 51a on the clamping ring 20. The pressure thus exerted by 'the arms 5 6, 56a against-the plates 51, 51oI will move the shlftable disc 22 toward the stationary, disc I3 and thus operate through the same lever' 45- mechanism to apply the braking pressure in the manner heretofore described.

a From the foregoing description it will be seen that .a highly eillcient braking device is herewith provided wherein the braking force can` be ap- 50 plied either by uid pressure control actuation or by mechanical actuation. The mechanical operating means in no way interferes with the appli- A cation of the vbrakes by the uid pressure actuating means. In other words, the brakes can be 55 operated independently by either the mechanical means or by the iluid pressure means. In either case, there 'is causeda relative movement between the two discsso that the compound lever mechanism operates to multiply the braking force nor- `G0 mally exerted merely by the` relative movement of the discs. 'I'he invention' further provides anY eilicient manner of cooling the braking surfaces when they become heated dueto the application of the braking force. This cooling of the braking 65 surfaces adjacent the rin: prevents the bead or the tire from being damaged by the transmission of heat thereto. It is to be clearly understood that minor changes in the detailsvof construction and ar. 7o rangement of parts maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.-

I claim:

1. In a braking device, the combination of a K 75 rotatable member, a braking member connected to said rotatable member for rotation therewith,

Aa plurality of non-rotating discs, iiexible means connectingl said discs and forming therebetween a chamber adapted to be placed undervacuumV for causing relative movement of said discs, brake Q -shoes disposed on opposite sides .of said braking member, a lever mechanism connecting said brake shoes with said discs whereby to eifect relative movement of said brake shoes into contact with said braking member when the chamber between v10 said discs is placed under vacuum and mechanically actuated means connected to said discs for eiecting relativemovement of said brake shoes. into contact with said braking member through said lever mechanism. l

2. In a braking device, the combination of a rotatable member, a braking member connected to said rotatable member for rotation therewith. a plurality ofAnon-rotating discs, flexible means connecting-said discs vand forming therebetween 20 a chamber adapted to be 'placed under vacuum for causingrelative movement of said discs, a pair of relatively movable brake shoes disposed one on each side of said braking member, a compound lever-mechanism connected to.-a movable discd and operating to effect relative movement of said brake shoes` into contact with said braking member when the chamber between said discs is placed under vacuum, and mechanically actuated means operating through said lever mechanism for effecting relative movement of said brake shoes into contact with said braking member.

3. In a braking device, the combination of a rotatable member, a braking member connected to said rotatable member/for rotation therewith,

a .stationary disc, a brake shoe carried by saidstationary disc anddisposed at one side of said braking member, a shlftable disc, ilexibleI means connecting said shlftable disc to said stationary disc-and forming therebetween a chamber adapted to be placed under vacuum for eii'ectingl movement of said shlftable disc toward saidstationary disc, a movable brake shoe disposed on the opposite side of said braking member, a lever mechanism connecting said movable brake shoe with said shlftable disc and operating to multiply the eiective braking force acting on the movable brake shoe, said lever mechanism including.:l a plurality of pivoted levers,V one of said levers being connected to said movable brake shoe and 50 another of said levers being connected to saidv shlftable disc, and mechanically operatedmeans foreiecting movement of said shiftable disc toward said stationary disc whereby toy apply the braking force through said lever mechanism.

4. In a braking device, the combination of a rotatable member, a braking member connected to said rotatable member for rotation therewith. and for limited axial movement in respect thereto,

a stationary'brake shoe disposed at one side 60.

of said braking member, a movable brake shoe disposed at the opposite side of said braking member, a lever having a fulcrum point at one end thereof and being connected intermediate its ends to said movable brake shoe, a`second lever pivoted to the opposite end of said ilrstnamed lever and having a fulcrum pointA inter- `rotatable member, abraking member connected to said rotatable member for rotation therewith and for limited axial movement in respect thereto, a stationary brake shoe disposed at one side of said braking member, a movable brake shoe disposed at the opposite side of said braking member, a disc disposed within said rotatable member and shiftable axially thereof, a lever having one end thereof connected to said shiftable disc and having a fulcrum point intermediate its ends, a. second lever pivoted to the opposite. end of said first-named lever and having a fulcrum point at the free end thereof, means connecting said movablerbrake shoe with said second lever intermediate its ends, and means for ,moving said shiftable disc whereby to actuate said lever mechanism and effect relative contact between said brake shoes and said braking members.

6. In a braking device, the combination of a rotatable member, a braking member having an angular slot therethrough connected to said rotatable member or'rotation therewith and for limited axial movement relative thereto; spring means engaging said braking member at opposite sides of said slot for normally holding the said braking member in engagement Withsaid rotatable member to prevent rattling but perangular slot therethrough and a radial outwardly tact with said braking member.

8; In a braking device, the combination of a rotatable member, a braking member connected to said rotatable member for rotation therewith and for limited axial movement relative thereto,

said braking member having radial openings therethrough whereby air will pass outwardly therethrough to cool the same, a stationary brake shoe disposed at one side of said braking member,l

a movable member disposed at the opposite side of said braking member, a brake shoe carried thereby, said movable member having a laterally directed portion underlying said braking member, said laterally directed-portion having openings therethrough whereby air will pass between the braking surfaces to cool the same when the brake shoes are released, means for causing relative contact between said brake shoes and said braking member, and means for separating the brake shoes to release the braking force.

9. In a braking device, the combination of a rotatable member, a braking member having a radial outwardly extending rib portion connected to said rotatable member for rotation therewith and for limited axial movement relative thereto, said rib portion having a plurality of recesses at the edge thereof to permit circulation of air, said braking member having a relatively large number of radial openings therethrough for causing circulation of air over the braking member as it rotates with said rotatable member, relatively movable brake shoes disposed one on each side of said braking member, and means including a lever mechanism for eiecting relative movement of said brake shoes into contact with said braking member.

FREDERICK L. SHELOR. 

